It was suggested at the seminar that within the process of developing a local intervention a number of scenarios for particular situations be developed, which could then become a general framework that would guide implementation of policies at a local level. The framework could be adjusted to particular situations to help officials and communities cope with problems and impact of HIV/AIDS as it starts to affect that community.
These scenarios would help planners and other officials working at the local level to implement the strategy or policy when faced with difficult situations at the local level. The tools and monitoring mechanisms would be developed at the local level workshop where the officials on the ground could find practical solutions to the problems they are facing. Gabriel Rugalema suggested that the UNDP have a programme intended to strengthen sectoral initiatives, which could be utilised by DLA in this process.
Ultimately the pilot projects would be intended to integrate HIV/AIDS scenario planning into the business plan produced for each community when land reform projects are implemented.
Some of the practical considerations and questions that needed to be asked within the scenario planning include:
-
Understanding the socio-ecology of the epidemic - relevant
questions need to be answered around the following issues for instance:
- Poverty - livelihood insecurity: food, poor land productivity, landlessness, lack of income, lack of employment;
- Migration;
- Poor health infrastructure; and
- Gender (vulnerability) - property rights
-
Understanding the impact of the epidemic - relevant questions need to
be answered around the following issues for instance:
- Loss of labour;
- Orphans / child headed households;
- Loss of income and other assets (including land);
- Food insecurity;
- Poverty;
- Skills and experience;
- Cost implications; and
- Security of tenure.
-
Getting PDLA and PDA staff to understand the relevance of HIV/AIDS in the mandate of their departments
- this can only be achieved through:
- Advocacy;
- Capacity building (including training);
- Management issue: HIV/AIDS integrated into policies / plans:
- Land reform;
- Improvement of agricultural production initiatives
- Food security
- Farmers (new cadre)
- Communities - adapt to morbidity and mortality
- Create capacity to link up with service providers dealing with
HIV/AIDS issues
- Data availability: gaps, sharing and mutual management;
- What:
- Services: land rights for survivors, home based care, food security, counseling, gender equality;
- Gaps; and
- Identify partners.
- Advocacy and campaigns
- World AIDS Day;
- Drugs and treatment; and
- Rights of survivors.
- Who:
- NGOs, CBOs, FBOs;
- Universities;
- Government departments, DoH, DSD, DLG etc.; and
- Other agencies.
-
Planning for land reform projects
- take cognizance of the impact of HIV/AIDS
-
Facilitation and co-ordination
- Monitoring and evaluation - programmes, progress;
- Feedback into policies and programmes;
- Sharing or resources / synergy;
- Information management; and
- Sharing experiences.
|